The Nigerian Army says it is engaging social media bloggers and online journalists in the country to combat the fake news syndrome.
The Chief of Civil Military Affair, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, stated this at the 15th Edition of Social Media Influencers Seminar for social media bloggers and online journalists in Kaduna on Monday.
Kangye, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Egbe, said that the event was organised by the Department of Civil Military Affairs of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Security Affairs Limited.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the event has as its theme, “Civil-Military Relations: The Evolving Role of the Social Media in Support of Nigerian Army’s Non-Kinetic Line of Operations”.
He said that cyberspace was the latest domain of modern warfare, adding that social media present a veritable tool in influencing and shaping public opinion, critical in deciding the outcome of battles.
He said that the interactive session was organised to provide an opportunity to freely interact, discuss, share ideas, and rub minds particularly towards eradication of fake news syndrome.
According to him, security is everybody’s business, stressing that social media bloggers and online journalists have a very important role to play in the promotion of peace and security in the country.
“This is because what you say, the way you say it and how it spreads have far reaching implications than most of us think.
“As such, social media has a very crucial role to play in support of the Nigerian Army’s non-kinetic line of operations as well as shaping public opinion.
The chief of civil military affairs said that there was so much that social media can do in support of Nigerian Army operations across the country.
“For instance, the recent surrendering of Boko Haram insurgents and their humane reception by the Nigerian military has been perceived negatively by the online community, and by extension Nigerians.
“However, these developments ought to be a testimony of the effectiveness of the efforts put in place by the military to defeat insurgency.
He said that tackling insecurity generally involves the use of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
He said that the approaches were complementary, stressing that encouraging criminals to surrender does not mean they would evade prosecutions for crimes committed.
Reach the right people at the right time with Nationnewslead. Try and advertise any kind of your business to users online today.
Kindly contact us for your advert or publication @ Nationnewslead@gmail.com Call or Whatsapp: 08168544205, 07055577376, 09122592273
